Cylinder surfacing tool



May l2, 1953 H. R. BILLETER CYLINDER SURFACING TOOL Filed April 17, 1950 Patented May 12, 1953 CYLINDER SURFACING TOOL Henry Robert Billeter, Highland Park, Ill., as-

signor to Ammco Tools, Inc., North Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 17, 1950, Serial N0. 156,474

9 Claims.

This invention relates to cylinder surfacing tools and has to do more particularly with a tool of this character especially well adapted for surfacing cylinders of relatively small size. While the present invention is especially well adapted to cylinder surfacing tools of small sizes for small cylinders, the invention is not thus limited and tools of larger sizes may be constructed followwith the wall of the cylinder, in which tool the surfacing elements are adapted to be clamped in contracted position to facilitate insertion of the corresponding portion of the'too'l into the cylinder. f

Still another object of the invention is to provide a ycylinder surfacing tool of the type including a plurality of cylindersurfacing units,

in which tool vthe units may be quickly and easily removed byavsimple manual manipulation to permit replacement when the units become .worn

or in the event that they should be damaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool of the foregoing character which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture but which, at the same time, is eifective to accomplish the desired results and is sturdy and durable.`

Still another object of the invention is toprovide a cylinder surfacing tool of the type wherein a plurality of surfacing units are carried by supporting members for expansion in a generally radially outward direction into engagement with the cylinder wall, in which tool each surfacing element is rockable on its supporting member about a single aXis extending transverselythereof to permit self-adjusting movement of the surfacing element, whereby during operation the element contacts the cylinder Wall substantially throughout its length, but such rocking movement being positively limited to facilitate insertion of the tool in the bore of the cylinder,the

surfacing units at the same time being positively .prevented from rocking or tilting on their respeciireuPPOTtS .ergert aboutie@ eoresaidaxes diameter;

Another object of the invention is to provide a cylinder surfacing tool of the type wherein a plurality of surfacing units are supported for radially outward expansion against the wall of the cylinder and are contractible to permit insertion of the thus supported units into a relatively small bore cylinder, in which tool the units are so supported that they may be contracted into a relatively small compass but the units and their supporting means nevertheless are of sumcient size to provide the desired strength and rigidity -of the structure.

Another object is to provide a cylinder surfacing tool which is light but sturdy and at the same time is automatically self-centering, is Well balanced, and is relatively free from vibration or chattering.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the invention, the tool being shown as inserted in a cylinder of such size that the tool is contracted substantially to the minimum Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the structureV of Fig. l; i

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device and showing it in its condition when inserted in a cylinder of larger diameter than that shown in Fig. l, with the surfacing units expanded somewhat;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the surfacing units; and

lFig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the free end portion of one of the spring supports for the surfacing units.

The tool of the present invention includes a rigid elongated body IU of a cross section providing a plurality of relatively flat faces which are provided with rectangular grooves I I respectively, and preferably it is of triangular cross section, for reasons which will appear hereinafter, thereby providing three such grooved faces.

, One end of the body is received in a recess or socket l2 formed in the end of a head or socket member I3 and is removably secured therein by set screws I4 threaded into the head I3 and corresponding in number to the number of faces of 'the body I0 andcooperating respectively there- .along their lengths.

Aing set screw I4. bowed or bent, and preferably the former, so

that the portion thereof which extends out of port.

with in a manner described more in detail hereinafter.

The tool includes a plurality of, and preferably three, surfacing units l5 adapted to be mounted in circumferentially spaced relation for expansion in a generally radially outward direction into contact with the wall of the cylinder, so that when the tool is rotated and reciprocated within the cylinder in the manner customarily employed in the use of cylinder surfacing tools of this general character, the cylinder engaging portions of the cylinder surfacing units bear against the wall of the cylinder and effect the desired action on the wail. Each surfacing unit includes a carrier (see especially Fig. 6) which preferably takes the form of a channel member having a web il and spaced flanges i8 extending from the sides thereof. The iianges I8 preferably are of greater heights at their central portion than at their ends and are provided with aligned openings IllA substantially midway Suitably secured to the outer face of the web il, as by an adhesive, is a surfacing element which preferably takes the form of an abrasive stone or pad of the desired ,d .degree of fineness to impart to the surface of the cylinder the desired surface characteristics. The surfacing units l5 are connected to the ybody I in such manner that they are normally yieldingly urged radially outwardly but may be contr-acted for the purpose of inserting them in the bore of the cylinder to be surfaced. At the vsame time the surfacing units are so carried by Ithe body I0 that when the latter is rotated and reciprocated, or both, the units are correspondingly driven to pass over the surface of the cylinder wall in Contact therewith. To this end each surfacing unit is attached to the body Ii) by a support 25 which preferably takes the form of an elongated leaf spring having its inner end disposed in one of the grooves II and within the socket I2 and secured therein by the correspond- The support 25 is normally the socket I2 normally extends away from the body I0, The support 25, however, is so positioned that when its outer end is moved in the direction of the body Ii] the support progressively enters the groove II and thecorresponding `portion of the support seats against the bottom Wall .of the groove.

Each of the surfacingunits I is secured to one of the supports adjacent the free end thereof in such manner that the unit is free to rock to a llimited extent about a single axis transversely of the support but is restrained against rocking or vtilting..movement in any other direction with respect to the support. To this end the support is provided adjacent its outer end with a pair of `upstanding ears 26 preferably formed integrally with the support. Each ear 26 `ioins the support at its base and extends therefrom along but spaced from the support toward the free end of the latter, and is provided with an out-turned end 21 adapted to enter one of the openings I9 of the carrier I6, whereby the two ends 2l serve as trunnions for rockably mounting the carrier and its attached surfacing element. The free end 28 of the support 25 is bent outwardly from the plane of the support, as illustrated particularly in- Figs. 4 and '7, and serves to take the side thrust of the unit I 5 during operation and aids inpreventing the unit from twisting on its sup- Rocking'movement of the surfacing unit on the support is limited in 'one `direction by the vcient size to provide the necessary size and rigidity. I accomplish these desirable results, at least in part, by employing three surfacing units and a body of triangular cross-sectional shape. This arrangement of units also insures that the tool will be self-centering and that the pressures exerted by the several units against the cylinder wall will be equal.

The supports 25, and the surfacing units I5 carried thereby, may be clamped in their innermost contracted position, or in any position intermediate their innermost contracted and outermost expanded positions, by a clamp member 3U which preferably takes the form of a .ring or washer having an` opening 3l therethrough of generally triangular shape, and so shaped vand dimensioned that the edges of the opening substantially conform to the over-all external dimension of the body II) and the supports when in the grooves Il, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5,.` It will be seen that upon contracting the `surfacing units manually and then advancingthe clamp member to an appropriate position on the body I 0, the supports may be held in any desired contracted position between their most contracted and most expanded positions.v The clamp member 3G preferably is o slightly smaller diameter than the minimum dia-meter of the units when in contracted condition so that there is no likelihood of the member 30 contacting the cylinder Wall during insertion of the tool into the cylinder or removal therefrom, or during the surfacing operation.

In the use of the tool it is both rotated and reciprocated in a manner similar to that in which other cylinder surfacing tools are oper-ated. To this end the socket member is provided with a knob of generally spherical form and having studs projecting diametrically oppositelyy therefrom, transversely to the axis of the tool, which studs may be providedconveniently by securing a pin 3e in the head. 4The, head I3 is adapted to be connected to a drive member 31 having a socket 38 adapted to receive the knob 35, and a pair of diametrically opposed bayonet slots. 39 adapted to receive the studs 36, the knob 35 having a shank 40 by which the tool may be driven.

VThe. shank may be inserted in a chuck, such as lunits, vare contracted manually. and the clamp vmenribermoved to its most advanced position to thereby clamp the surfacing units in their `most contracted condition. The tool, is then inserted in the cylinder and the clamp member moved back to its position against the end of the head I3, thereby allowing the surfacing units to expand and the yfaces of the surfacing elements to engage the walls of the cylinder under the desired pressure,v which isv established by the resiliency of the supporting members 25. Iii-certain ader-,95a

c'ases `it 'may `be found desirable to limit the expansion of the units, which can be ldone by leaving the clamp member in an intermediate position. The drive shank 40 is then secured in the chuck of an electric hand drill or other driving mechanism and the latter operated to rotate the tool and, at the same time, reciprocated to move the tool back and forth throughout the length of the cylinder.

' When the operation has been completed, the driving mechanism is halted and the clamp member is slid to the outer end of the body, to thereby contract the surfacing units and permit the tool to be removed from the cylinder without damage to the surfaces thereof.

The surfacing units may be readily removed from their respective supports when they become worn, or if they are damaged, by merely grasping the unit in one hand and pinching the ears of the support together to disengage the ends 21 from the openings I9. A replacement unit may then be attached by pinching the ears and inserting them between the flanges of the carrier and guiding the ends of the ears into the corresponding openings.

The supports 25 may be readily removed and replaced, should they become broken, by removing the corresponding set screw I4 and sliding the supports out of the socket I2. After replacement of the support 25 the set screw is again tightened to clamp the support in place.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple cylinder surfacing tool which may be made relatively inexpensively but which at the same time is rugged and durable. The tool has a minimum number of parts and those parts which may become worn, such as the surfacing units, or which may be broken, such as the supporting springs, may be readily removed and replaced. A The leaf springs provide both means for mounting the surfacing units and for automatically urging them radially outwardly against the cylinder walls so that the surfacing elements bear against the .walls with the desired pressure. The springs are sufliciently rigid and are so locked to the body, by their disposition in the grooves and the locking set screws, that they cannottwist, turn or become displaced during operation.

The tool is capable of a wide variety of uses, as will appear from the foregoing. It has been found to be especially suitable for use in surfacing automotive brake cylinders which are customarily of small diameter, The tool is useful in removing gum and corrosion such as often found to be present on the wall of such cylinders, as well as providing a surface having the desired character.

' I claim:

l. A cylinder surfacing tool comprising an elongate rigid body, at least three flat elongate spring members extending along and generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body, means securing said spring members, independently of each other, at one end to said body in substantially equally spaced arrangement there.. about, the remaining portions of the spring members being disconnected from said body and from each other and being thereby movable independently of each other, a plurality of surfacing units each having a rigid, elongate `body and an abrasive surface which is straight in a longitudinal direction and arcuate in a transverse direction, and means pivotally connecting said surfacing units each to one of said spring members adja- 6 cent the end of the latter for pivotal rocking movement about an axis transversely of said spring member and the corresponding surfacing unitand approximately at the longitudinal midpoints of the latter.

2. A small bore cylinder surfacing tool comprising an elongate body, a head having a socket receiving an end of said body, a plurality 0f cylinder surfacing units, an elongate resilient supporting member for each of said units having its one end disposed in said socket and its principal portion projecting therefrom in a direction generally longitudinally of the body and having a portion normally extending away from said body, the supporting members being in position to be moved into contact substantially throughout their length with said body, a plurality of fastening elements removably secured in said head bearing inwardly on the outer surfaces of the supporting elements and clamping said supporting elements respectively against said body to removably secure the latter and said supporting elements in said head, and means supporting said units on said supporting members respectively adjacent the free ends thereof for rocking movement thereon about a single pivot axis transversely of the corresponding supporting member and approximately midway of the surfacing unit in a direction longitudinally thereof.

3. A cylinder surfacing tool comprising an elongate body, a plurality of cylinder surfacing units each including a generally channel-shaped carrier, having aligned openings in the fianges thereof approximately at the longitudinal midpoints respectively, an elongate leaf spring member for each of said units secured adjacent one end to said body with its flat side abutting the body and extending generally longitudinally of the body with a portion thereof normally extending away from said body, the leaf spring members being in position to be moved into contact substantially throughout their length with said body, and means supporting said units on said springs respectively adjacent the free ends thereof for rocking movement thereon about a single pivot axis transversely of the corresponding spring and approximately midway of the surfacing unit in a direction longitudinally thereof, said last means including paired iiexible ears upstanding from said springs respectively adjacent the free ends thereof, movable toward and from each other and having lateral projections mounted in the openings in the flanges respectively of the corresponding carrier, said springs having portions extending into the respective carriers in .position for receiving side thrust from said flanges.

4. A cylinder surfacing tool comprising an elongate body, a plurality of cylinder surfacing units each including a generally channel-shaped carrier, an elongate leaf spring for each of said units secured adjacent one end to said body and normally extending away from said body in position to be moved into contact substantially throughout its length with said body, and means supporting said units on said springs respectively adjacent the free ends thereof for limited rocking movement about a single pivot axis transversely of the corresponding spring and approximately midway of the surfacing unit in a direction longitudinally thereof, said last means including ears upstanding integrally from said springs respectively adjacent the free ends thereof and received between and pivotally engaging the fianges of the corresponding carrier, said ears being positioned for engagement by oneend of the respective surfacing units :for limiting rocking movement of the units in one direction.

. 5. A, cylindersurfacing .tool comprising an elongated body of generally triangular crosssectional shape and having grooved side walls, three elongateieaf springs, each secured ,adjacent one end to a wall of said body respectively and normally curving away from said wall in position to be collapsed substantially throughout its length into the groove in such wall, three cylinder surfacing units, `and means attaching said units to said springs adjacentthe free ends thereof respectively for limited rocking movement thereon about a single pivot 4axistransversely of. the corresponding spring .and approximately midway longitudinally of the. unit, said units being supported solely by said springs.

6. A cylinder surfacing tool comprising an elongate body, a plurality of cylinder surfacing units each including a generally channel-shaped carrier, an elongate leaf spring for each of said units. secured adjacent one end to said body and normally extending away fromsaid body in position to be moved into contact substantially throughout its length with said body, and means supporting said units onsaid springs respectively adjacent the free ends thereof for limitedrockingmovement ,about a single pivot axis transversely of the corresponding spring and approximately midway of the surfacing unit in a direction longitudinally thereof, saidlast means. being respectively adjacent but spaced from the free ends of the springs, the free ends of said springs being engageable by one end of the respective surfacing units for limltingrocking movement ,of `the units in one direction.

7. A cylinder surfacing tool. comprising an elongate body having side walls with grooves extending substantially throughout its length, a plurality of cylinder surfacing units, .elongate supporting members of spring material for said units extending longitudinally of the body'and each having one end fitted in a groove and secured to the body therein, the remaining portions of thev supporting members normally 'being selfbiased outwardly and being adapted to be moved into the grooves throughout the length" of the latter, the supporting members being free to move independently of eachiothenand means v.attachingV said .units to said supporting members, respectvely, adjacent the free end thereof for rocking movement thereon each about a single pivotaxis transversely of the corresponding supportingimember and approximately midway longitudinally of the unit.

8. A cylinder surfacing tool comprising an elongate body, a .plurality of. cylinder `surfacing units each including a generally channel-shaped carrier, an elongate leaf .spring for each of said units secured adjacent one end to said body and normally extending away from said body in psition to be, moved into contact substantially throughout its length with said body, and means supportingr said units on said springs respectively adjacent the free endsthereof for limited rocking movement each about a single pivot axis 'transversely of the corresponding spring and -ap-. proximately midway of the surfacing unit in a direction longitudinally thereof, said last means including ears upstanding integrally from said springs, respectively, adjacent the vfree -ends thereof and received between and pivotally engaging .the flanges of the corresponding carrier, said ears being` positioned for engagement by one end of the respective surfacing units for limiting rocking movement of the units in one direction, and said springs having portions at their free ends .extending into respective carriers in positionfor limiting rocking movement of the units in the other, direction.

9. For use in a `cylinder vsurfacing tool, the combination comprising a cylinder surfacing unit including a generally channel-shaped carrier having flanges extending at least a substantial vportion of the length of the carrier, said flanges having aligned openings approximately at the longitudinal midpoints of the channel, an elongate leaf spring member for said unit having a securing end and a free end, and means supporting said unit on said spring member adjacent free end thereof for rocking movement thereon about a single pivot axis transversely of the spring member and approximately ymidway of the ysurfacing unit in a direction longitudinally thereof, said last means including ears upstanding integrallyfrom said vspring member adjacent to but spaced from said free end thereof, Asaid ears having lateral projections mounted inthe openings in said flanges and the ears extending into the carrier in position for receiving side thrmt from said flanges and for engagement by one end of said surfacing unit for limiting rocking movement of the unit in one direction, and said .spring member having a portion at its .free end extending into said carrier in position for limiting rocking movement of the unit in the other direction.

HENRY ROBERT BILLETER.

References Cited inthe lfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 489,606 Geneste Jan. 10, 1893 639,701 Basener Dec. 26, 1899 698,527 Lurtz Apr. 29, 1902 .1,058,245 Lorenz Apr. 8, l1913 1,171,070 Roder Feb. 8.1916

1,445,154 Miller Feb. 13, 1923 1,707,988 Mikelson Apr. 9,' 1929 2 112,120 Schmidt Mar. 22, 1938 2,118.7,20 Zimmerman Way 24,. 1938 12,208,901 Hawkinson July 23, 1940 `2,596,961 ASmole .May 13,1952 

